| Maha Sivarathri
New-moon night in Massy is the great night of Shiva or Maha Shivaratri
is very sacred to the devotees of Lord Shiva. Tradition on this day,
Lord Shiva consumed the deity poison which emanated when the ocean of
milk was churned by the Devas and Asuras, and this saved the universe.
The worship that was offered to Shiva on that night is
being repeated annually. Another version is that at the time of
deluge, the whole world was immersed in complete darkness, and the divine
mother Parvati restored light to the world, by offering worship
to the Shiva on this night. It is said that the rituals observed
by the ordinary folk are the same as those observed by Parvati
Maha Sivaratri is observed in every temple dedicated
to Lord Shiva and in every Shaivite Hindu household. The devotees
keep vigil the whole night. Throughout the night, the people worship
Shiva by chanting "Om Nama Sivaya " or singing hymns in his
praise. The next morning they take their bath and after worshipping
Shiva, break their fast. Shiva temples are specially illuminated on
that occasion and the deity is worshipped in four different ways, during
the four periods of night, each three hours. The image is anointed
with milk, curd, butter or honey during the four periods.
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